The New Minister's Great Opportunity First published in the "Century Magazine"

"The New Minister's Great Opportunity" by Heman White Chaplin is a humorous story set during the late 1800s that follows a new minister, Mr. Holt, in a small town as he prepares to give a funeral sermon for Uncle Capen, a 100-year-old member of the community. The story explores how Mr. Holt struggles to create a funeral sermon that captures the man’s life as he talks to the townspeople and family to collect stories. Through this preparation, the narrative touches on key elements such as community, legacy, mortality, and what it means to leave behind a meaningful life within a changing historical backdrop. The writing style infuses social commentary with humor as the minister, through the act of piecing together Uncle Capen’s history, reflects on the man's life to honor his memory.